Microsoft's T-Shirt cannon

Microsoft's Clint Rutkas took his T-shirt cannon on the road to Maker Faire.

The current version uses off-the-shelf parts, is powered by Windows, and can launch from a Windows Phone. However, it also costs in excess of $10,000. Rutkas is working on the design for a much-lower-end version that can be built for just a tiny fraction of that cost.

Where did I put that funny bone

Who couldn't resist a life-size version of the board game Operation. Unfortunately, its creator was at lunch when I stopped by, so I wasn't able to reaffirm that I made the right choice by skipping med school.

Like silly putty, only less silly

One of my favorite finds of the day was Sugru, a moldable silicon created by Irish inventor Jane Ni Dhulchaointigh. The substance feels a bit like Play-Doh or Silly Putty, but it interacts with the moisture in the air to harden and form a bond with nearly any substance it is placed on.

Sugru on sale

Sugru can be worked with for about a half hour before it starts to cure, fully hardening in a day, depending on its thickness and the air temperature. It was shown being used to create a moldable handle or joining two tools together, among other things.